I was wondering what kind of experiences there are out here in the winging community. My local wing spot has had free public access since the Joumon jidai, about 3,000 years! Now some t**d in the local government has installed a pay meter barrier. In the summer swimming season they provide cold showers and a net at the beach to keep the jelly fish out - there are also a couple of toilet blocks, these are the only communal facilities.
I've always believed the beach should be free for all people and that it belongs to the people, lots of us wingers and wind surfers like to go to the beach even if it isn't windy, hang out, chat with our mates, clean the sand out of our cars, repair our gear, read the paper, listen to the radio and keep the world spinning on it's axis, now we have to pay for this privilege, I wonder what your thoughts are
My local council says it costs them over million dollars a year to look after the beaches. Beach cleaning, toilets, maintaining the foreshore environment and paths. The big one is rubbish removal.
Locals get free parking and visitors pay about $8 an hour.
In winter crowding is not a problem. In summer it's sensible to not come to the beach until 5:00pm, especially when the lifesaving club has an event on. The sea breeze kicks in about 4:30. If you come too early there's millions of mums and dads and kids in lycra tops. If you come too late there's millions of kiteboarders and wingdingers and windsurfers with vans and trailers.
With the wingding being mostly immune to gusty offshore-ish conditions I often park somewhere else and ride out and/or upwind to the cleaner conditions.
If you're paying property taxes in an area, parking and access at your local beach should be covered in there. Charge the tourists their first born + $10 an hour, maybe they won't come back next year. Tourism has RUINED my local area.
